Choice Bits!

MONEY'S PLATTE RIVER INN: Practically an Up North institution, the place to find out the latest fishing or snowmobile news from the locals and visitors who gather for their hearty breakfasts, steaks, burgers, soup & salad bar, & homemade desserts. 10921 Main St., Honor. 231­ 352­6585.

BC LANES FAMILY ENTERTAIMENT CENTER: When you've worked up an appetite from all the bowling and karaoke that Boyne City Lanes has to offer, you'll find a selection of hearty fare to choose from, including homemade soups & desserts. Cocktails are served at the Lanes,with live entertainment and glow ­bowling nights.1199 West Boyne Road, 231-­582­-6353.

CHINA ONE: Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner. Full Chinese menu, as well as Hunan & Szechuan entrees. Daily specials, special combination plates, a lunch & dinner All You Can Eat Buffet. 616 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac, 231­-876­-8888.

A&W: Take a trip back to the '50s where chili dogs & frosted mugs of root beer are still served up by carhops at this All ­American institution. Elvis has been known to make an appearance during their annual summer “A&W Cruise Night” in August, as do cars from the 50’s and 60’s that we remember well. At the bottom of the hill, 21 Lake St., Frankfort, 231-­352-­9021.

THE NEW YORK RESTAURANT: A refined atmosphere, subdued lighting, and an appetizing selection of epicurean treats awaits the diner at this Harbor Springs corner landmark. Menu selections range from their smoked whitefish ravioli appetizer to their Atlantic salmon, baked polenta and eggplant, tomato basil fettuccine, or filet mignon ­ and their brunches include one of the best versions of Eggs Benedict around. 101 State Street, downtown across from Bar Harbor, 231­-526-­1904.

EMPIRE VILLAGE INN: Pool tables, a full bar, friendly service and a varied menu make the Village Inn popular with families and locals. Dinners include Lamb Skewers, Blue Corn Enchiladas, Charbroiled Whitefish, Lasagna and Ribeye. Also burgers, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and pizza. Lunch and Dinner.Just north of the blinking light 116601 Lacorre Ave. on M­22, Empire. 231-326­-5101.

JESPERSON'S: One of Petoskey's first restaurants, Jesperson's is famous for homemade pies and fresh turkey. Breakfast and lunch. 312 Howard, Petoskey, 231­-347­-3601.

DiningKristi Kates
Johan’s is a long-standing tradition in the Petoskey-Harbor Springs-Boyne area. Anyone who lives near one of their bakeries knows the scent of fresh-baked pastries and bread that begins early in the morning, tempting passers-by to stop in for breakfast, lunch, or just a treat.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
When it first opened, the Blue Heron only served pastries and coffee in the morning, but like its namesake in Cadillac, it has since begun serving full breakfasts: omelettes, breakfast bowls, wraps and sandwiches. Williams expects, or at least hopes, that the first meal will soon become as popular.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
After a few months of working at Mico’s (which was eventually sold and became Firefly), he returned to the warmer climes of southern California. But he returned to the area in more temperate weather, and eventually decided it was time to move here and open his own restaurant.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
That’s certainly the case in Maple City, where Pegtown Station serves as the de facto meeting place and hospitality center. Friends greet each other as they enter or leave, and the chance to grab a bite with other folks from nearby is certainly a draw.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
For Lynn and Skip Telgard, the third generation to operate the popular Leland eatery, there’s nothing else they’d rather do. With the tavern, dining room, patio, and the Early Bird next door, running the restaurants keeps them both beyond simply busy..

DiningRoss Boissoneau
But they weren’t dissuaded - “Chuck had the vision” – and on May 21 this year they closed on the purchase. But that left precious little time to be open for the summer season. So their contractor and crew worked non-stop, 12-hour days six days a week, and the Bluefish opened July 3.

DiningRick CoatesOne of my favorite things to do is traverse around Northern Michigan and take in the offerings of our many small towns. My family typically makes a dozen trips a year to Boyne City due in part to my son’s athletic events. We like to visit the several locally owned shops and every trip through town includes a stop at Cafe Santé.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
It derives its name from Manistee’s boating heritage. In fact, it’s just across the Manistee River from the site of the Century Boat factory, which produced some of the country’s most celebrated – and fastest – watercraft during the mid to late 20th century.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
Those looking for a quick trip abroad could spend hundreds of dollars to jet across the sea. Or they could simply stop in Lake Leelanau for a meal. That’s because Bella Fortuna North represents Florence, Italy, more convincingly than immersing oneself in a YouTube video.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
It’s derived from when sailors would swim in from their ship and have to pay for their pleasures with the money in their wet pockets, according to general manager Ryan Beyer. While that’s typically no longer the case, it fits in with the Leelanau County town’s maritime heritage.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
Starting a restaurant is a demanding endeavor. But for the After 26 project, the scope of the challenge was even more daunting. Its mission was also to provide employment opportunities for people with special needs who had aged out of public educational programs.

DiningDanielle Horvath
The Mayfair Tavern, dubbed “Elberta’s Country Club,” has been a fixture in the tiny Benzie County hamlet of Elberta since the 1930s. It was owned and operated by several generations of the Luxford family until it was sold in 1998 to Wally Palmer.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
The menu is the brainchild of chef D.J. Flynn. A veteran of the food service industry in the area, Flynn previously served as executive chef at Bay Harbor and also worked at Tapawingo, the late lamented Ellsworth eatery that regularly topped the state’s best restaurant lists.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
Another favorite is the Echo’s Bend pizza. It includes fresh offerings from Echo Bend farm in Arcadia, brought in by server Charla Kramer, who owns and runs the farm with her husband Tom. It’s topped with goat cheese, toasted nuts, and chef’s choice of sauce.

DiningRoss Boissoneau
Don’t turn your back. That’s the advice from Mark Nelson. But he’s not talking about a shifty-eyed passer-by. No, he’s referring to the behemoth wood-fired oven that takes up a large portion of the space inside Full Moon Pizza Company, the restaurant he and Nathan Knickerbocker own and run.